Nine-Army Battle Historical Park: A Look Back at History in Kanchanaburi

It’s hardly surprising that relations between Myanmar and Thailand are still strained today when considering their history. The Burmese and Thais have been fighting with each other for as long as the history of Thailand. To know more about this, we recommend you visit a historic place when you are around Kanchanaburi.

The Nine-Army Battle Historical Park (aka The Nine-Army Battle Memorial Park) is located on an old battlefield of ancient Kings of Siam and Burma in the Kanchanaburi Province in Thailand. From 1539 to 1855, it is surmised that Siam and Burma collided with each other in two dozen wars. That is some war rate right there. It is no wonder both nations never have a good word to say about each other. 

If you want to know more about the history of the Nine-Army Battle Historical Park, make sure to read on about this must-visit place.

 Fun Fact!

The Nine-Army Battle Historical Park offers you an insight into Thai history, and you leave here after learning so much about the past. you can learn from the drawings, maps, and memorial statues that have enclosed the history of battles inside them. 

The Historical Park in the Past

The history of the Nine-Army Battle Historical Park is mostly unknown and uncharted terrain for Western historians and travelers, which makes it one of the unique places to visit when discovering off-the-beaten-path sites in Thailand. It is a legend that the Burmese instigated most of the battles on the lands of the Mon people, today regarded as on the Thai-Burmese border. 

The historical park is there to commemorate the great battle that was under the command of King Rama I. He saved the country against the invading Burmese King Bodawpaya in 1795. It is now more commonly known by Thais as the Sonkram Kai Tap, which breaks down as ‘The Nine-Army Battle.’ The name is derived from nine Burmese army units that attacked Thailand from different places where the great battle ensued. 

It is believed that over 70,000 Burmese soldiers lost their lives in just a few hours during the battle. An estimated 15,000 Thai soldiers were killed, and a vast majority of the 1,000 war elephants also died in the heat of the battle. It said corpses littered the fields and waterways, turning the river a bloody red. Over the years, calmer heads have prevailed. Since 1949, the wars between Thailand and Burma have come to a halt. But even today, you won’t hear Thai people have much good to say about the Burmese.

  Trivia!

Nearly 70,000 Burmese and 15,000 Thai soldiers gave their lives in the Nine-Army Battle. 

The Historical Park Today

Obviously, the historical park is no longer a battlefield in this day and age. It has now become a park that bestows the region's ancient history with many exciting features for tourists. You can come to the park, learn about history, find out more about the battles from the past and go away knowing more than when you arrived. Many detailed drawings, diagrams, maps, and videos detail the region's history in graphic detail. 

  Did You Know?

This historical park was built to commemorate the great battle that was fought under the command of King Rama I. He saved the country against the invading Burmese King Bodawpaya in 1795.

Map & More Information 

The Nine-Army Battle Historical Park in Kanchanaburi was established in 1999 to celebrate the victory of King Rama I and the Thai Warriors, who defeated the Burmese Army in 1785. There is no entry fee, and you get to learn about the historical battles of Thailand from the maps, drawings, and memorial statues.